EVERY year, October is the golden month for the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Filipino Senior Citizens.
Why is it so? To begin with, the BSP became an independent national youth organization on October 31, 1936 by virtue of Commonwealth No. 111 from its mother institution, the Boy Scouts of America who introduced Scouting in the country as early as 1914.
Before the historic event, the organization was known as the Boy Scouts of America, Philippine Council. Clearly the month of October is the founding period of the BSP which was celebrated with a series of commemorative events every year since then.
On the other hand, the Filipino Elderly Celebration since 1994 is pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation by President Fidel V. Ramos and in Year 2003 the City Council of Baguio approved a resolution vigorously supporting the proclamation and even extended the citywide celebration for the whole month of October.
Spread throughout the four-week period are select spiritual-religious, fraternal, civic-social, cultural and sports activities, carefully designed to provide and generate fun, fellowship and adventure.
It is not surprising at all that youth and elderly groups will usher in their respective programs with an opening bonanza set on October 1.
The CSWDO-OSCA led Filipino Elderly Month Celebration opening program at the FVR Gym set at 8AM with the DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman as guest of honor and speaker.
After the program a grand parade will follow from the gym to Malcolm Square where fruit-bearing trees will be distributed to the elderly groups to augment the ongoing “Green is Life” environmental and conservation project the CSWDO.
About the same time, the BSP Baguio Council will hold its own program at the Baguio Convention Center, followed also by a foot parade by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, all ranks.
For the convenience and comfort of the city’s elderly associations, a Kapihan hosted by the CSWDO-OSCA will be held at the Philippine Information Agency office on September 24 starting 9:30 AM.
Special events chairpersons Betty Fangasan and Engr. Isaias Barongan assisted by officers of the working committees will discuss the various elderly activities.
This will include the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at the Baguio Multi-purpose Hall on Oct. 2; Senior Citizens Officials for the Day (SCOFAD) Program at the City Hall on Oct. 5; Palaro and Lolo and Lola Got Talent at the Multi-purpose Hall on Oct. 8; exhibit at SM Baguio on Oct. 9, elderly forum at the multi-purpose hall on Oct. 15; and Pista sa Nayon at the Baguio Convention Center on Oct. 21.
The finale of the Elderly Month Celebration will be at the Baguio City National High School Auditorium on October 31, with BARP Foundation as overall program coordinator. The day’s features are the presentation of the prestigious Gintong Tala Luminary Award for Exemplary Leadership and Meritorious Community Services to the 12 Most Outstanding Senior Citizens from the city and Cordilleras. A barrio fiesta, with the coronation rites for BARP Lakambinis and kultora-o-rama will end the OCTOBERBEST 2015 palabas.
The detailed program of activities of the BSP-GSP October Month celebration will be announced next weekend. Meanwhile, the poem below is dedicated to all supporters and believers in the Scouting Movement.
INVEST IN SCOUTING
I .. Invest in Scouting for
N .. Nation building, character development and international brotherhood.
V .. Visualize the nobility of its ideals, programs and goals for growth.
E .. Everyday, anywhere and anytime worldwide,
S .. Scouting is an assurance to lasting peace, understanding and harmony,
T.. Today, Tomorrow and deep in the future.
I .. Invest in Scouting
N .. Now and be counted among the mighty throng of Scouts and Scouters and gallant supporters in the universe.
S .. Scouting in any perspective is a way of life:
C .. Campouts, camporees, National and World Scout Jamborees held in the
O .. Out-of-doors, always offer fun, fellowship and adventure,
U .. Under the canopy of the heaven, within the safe walls of the evergreen and on Mother Nature’s breast.
T .. The sanctity of the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto and the Scout Slogan are
I .. Its spiritual fiber and moral guiding principle to live and let live in brotherhood,
N .. Notwithstanding diversities in origin, creed, religion or ideological belief.
G .. God the Greatest Scoutmaster of all, please Bless the Scouting Movement, Sir Robert Baden Powell, its Founder and all of us who are in the centerfold – hoping, praying and aspiring for a Better Philippines and Better World.
Note: this simple poem in acrostic form is also lovingly dedicated to my Troopmates in 507 led by the Scouters Tom and Maragret Florek of Dolton, Illinois, U.S.A. and the family and to all my Arrowmates in the Order of the Arrow, Michigamea Lodge 110, Calumet Council Boy Scouts of America where I am deeply honored to be Life Member since 1979.
Greetings to my OA Godfather Scouter Dave Shea. God Bless!